21-05-2025
Scandal star Bellamy Young DEMANDS the show returns as she weighs in on current political climate
Scandal star Bellamy Young is calling for the popular political thriller to return amid the current turbulent political backdrop – and she's even revealed the cast would leap at reprising their characters.
The 55-year-old actress famously played Melody 'Mellie' Grant in the series, the no-nonsense powerhouse who started as the First Lady of the United States before running as a Republican presidential candidate and going on to become the first female President of the United States.
Speaking exclusively to at the New York Women in Communications Matrix Awards, where she was an honoree, Bellamy proclaimed that she is 'through' with men leading the country.
On the red carpet at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, she also revealed that the cast of Scandal have fond memories of the series and would love the opportunity to take the story further.
Bellamy said: 'So our sweet Kate Burton was president for like a week when we shot this, but yes, I was the first elected. When is it going to happen [in reality]? I'm so through with this!'
She continued: 'We're well past - if you look at the state of the world - we're well overdue for any sort of diversion from our historic path.
'But even being in the care of the women tonight of New York WICI (Women in Communications Inc.) as they plan for this event, we are given to a certain degree of thoughtfulness and attention to detail that I think would be really strategically important in running a thorough formation.'
There has never been a female President of the United States, although Kamala Harris fought for the top job as the Democrat nominee in the 2024 Election.
Hillary Clinton also ran against Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election.
Scandal ran on ABC from 2012 to 2018 across seven seasons.
Created by Shonda Rhimes, the political thriller is set Washington, D.C., and focuses on Olivia Pope's (Kerry Washington) crisis management firm and its staff, as well as staff at the White House and surrounding political scene.
The cast starred Tony Goldwyn as Fitzgerald Grant III, President of the United States, Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan, Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins, Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beene, Joshua Malina as David Rosen, and Scott Foley as Jake Ballard.
When asked whether there have been conversations about Scandal returning to television screens, Bellamy expressed her desire to revisit the show.
She added: 'So I wish that that were implemented. All the actors would show up anywhere tonight and start filming. We would love it.
'Shonda has always been clear that she knew where the story started and she knew where the story ended, but never say never.
'She also didn't know where the future was going when she started and finished that story, so who's to say?
'Maybe there's an itch she might be looking to scratch. I can only put it into the ether.'
Besides Bellamy, this year's Matrix honorees also included Kristen Welker, Moderator of NBC's Meet the Press; Leslie Berland, EVP, Chief Marketing Officer, Verizon; Nkechi Okoro Carroll, writer, showrunner, producer; and Dustee Jenkins, Chief Public Affairs Officer at Spotify.
Teneshia Jackson Warner, Founder and CEO of Egami Group was also honored, as well as Lucy Kaylin, Editorial Director of Hearst Magazines.
This year's theme is Leading Luminaries and the honorees are luminaries who are lighting the path of success and influencing the future.
Speaking to on the red carpet, Kristen Welker said that it was 'an incredible honor' to be recognized by the New York Women in Communications.
'Several of my colleagues at NBC News have won this award; Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and the great Andrea Mitchell, who's here tonight presenting me with my award,' she enthused.
'So it's a pinch me moment. I don't know how I'm going to get through my remarks after Andrea speaks. It really is incredibly humbling, so I'm excited.'
'If I could go back and talk to my teenage self, I would say, always believe in yourself,' Kristen, 48, continued.
'People are going to doubt you all along the way, when you're starting, when you're in the middle of your career, even when you get your dream job, and the one thing that gets you through all of those trials and tribulations is to believe in yourself and to surround yourself by a loving group of friends and family and to have a great team.
'It's all about community.'
The glitzy event was hosted by none other than media personality, podcaster, and attorney, Rachel Lindsay, who made history as the first Black female lead of The Bachelorette.
'It's one of those events where I feel like the energy in the room is so infectious,' she told
'It's just such an honor to be here, to be standing before people who are just here to support women, not just who are currently doing it, but investing in the people that are going to do it.
'So that's just really cool. I'm just like, I'm just happy to be invited.'
